Linfield Chamber Orchestra hosts San Francisco Guitar Quartet

Published January 23, 2013

The highly acclaimed San Francisco Guitar Quartet will perform Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. in the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium in Melrose Hall at Linfield College.

The quartet, hosted by the Linfield Chamber Orchestra as a guest artist performance, will share music from a rich background of traditions, including classical, world and improvisation. Founded in 1997, the San Francisco Guitar Quartet has established itself as a dynamic force in the guitar world through its ground-breaking concerts and recordings.

Tickets will be offered at the special price of $10, available at the door. Linfield students are admitted free with student ID.

Linfield students will have the opportunity to interact with the quartet during a “Meet the Musicians” session on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m. in Delkin Hall. Group members will talk about their careers as musicians and preview a selection from the concert.

The SFGQ includes recent addition Roberto Granados, a home-schooled 13-year-old guitarist, arranger, composer and ukulele virtuoso who began studying classical guitar at age 6. He joins seasoned group members Mark Simons, Patrick O’Connell and Jon Mendle, all acclaimed performers. The members of SFGQ have each distinguished themselves as recording artists and chamber musicians through their national and international touring, CD releases, and such achievements as first prize in the Baltimore Chamber Music Awards Competition, a Fulbright scholarship, and a concert appearance in Carnegie Hall. Group members also hold faculty positions in Bay Area colleges and universities.

The SFGQ tours nationally and internationally; with performances on Guam and Taiwan, as well as appearances across the US, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, the Northwest Guitar Festival, University of Texas Guitar Festival, Arizona State University, UC Santa Cruz, Cal State Fresno and Glendale Community College. Other past performances include San Francisco’s Omni Series, La Guitarra California Festival and Pasadena’s Guitarra del Mar series, as well as radio spots on NPR and the syndicated radio shows West Coast Live and Classical Guitar Alive!

The 2012-13 concert series represents the LCO’s grand finale season, a special celebration of inspiring music, talented musicians and a dedicated classical music audience. Since its inception in 1991, the Linfield Chamber Orchestra has provided Linfield students the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned musicians. Although 2012-13 marks the LCO’s final season, this tradition will continue with Linfield Lively Arts, a music series that will offer even greater opportunities for students to work directly with professional musicians. As with the LCO, the new music series will also provide local classical music lovers the opportunity to hear outstanding musicians in live performance.